Determining size of square needed for Bias Binding
1. Measure the distance around the outside of the quilt; add 18” to determine the length of binding needed.
2. Multiply the length of binding needed by the binding width to determine the area of binding fabric needed.
3. Find the square root of the area to determine the size of square to cut.
How to apply Bias Binding to your quilt .
1. Follow the above directions to determine the size of square needed.
2. Cut the square in half diagonally (see Diagram I). With right sides together, sew the triangles together with a 1/4" seam and press open.
3. On fabric wrong side long edges, draw lines to make
strips of your chosen binding width (see Diagram II). Use a clear acrylic rotary
ruler and a pencil or fine-point permanent pen to draw the lines.
4. Bring the short diagonal edges together, forming a tube (see Diagram III).
Offset the drawn lines by one strip. With right sides together, match lines with
pins at the 1/4" seam line and stitch seam; press open
.
5. With scissors, cut along continuously drawn line.
6. Fold in half lengthwise and press. Follow instructions below to apply binding to quilt.
Formula for calculating Straight-Grain Binding.
1. When using mitered corners, measure the four edges of quilt top, then add 18”. Divide this number by 42" ( or however long your fabric is) round up. This gives you the number of strips needed to go all the way around. Multiply this number by 2.5" or however wide you want to make your binding. This gives you how much fabric is needed for your binding.
2. Cut lengthwise (This method has less stretch in binding.) or crosswise strips the desired width. 2 ½” is a common width. Strips may be pieced to achieve the necessary length. Whenever piecing binding sew together with a 45 degree angle, this will be less noticeable then a straight seam.
3. Follow instructions below.
How to apply binding to your quilt.
Step 1. Cut your fabric strips 2 1/2" either crosswise (from selvage to selvage) or lengthwise. Sew the strips (right sides together) on a 45 degree angle. Trim a 1/4 inch seam allowance from the stitches. Press. Repeat for all of your strips. Fold the starting end of your binding at a 45 degree angle and press. Then fold the entire length of binding in half lengthwise to 1 1/4", press.
Step 2. Place your binding toward the middle of one of your quilt sides. Make sure the raw edges of binding are on the same side of the raw edges of quilt. Start sewing about 8" from the end of the strip. Lock your beginning stitches. Continue to your first corner.
Step 3. Stop sewing 1/4" away from edge, back stitch. Remove the quilt from your machine. Fold binding up, Fold binding back on itself, perpendicular to the seam you just stitched. Fold binding down, Fold the binding again, this time align the fold in the binding with the raw edges of the seam you just sewed and align the raw edges of the unstitched binding with the next edge of the quilt. Starting at the edge of the quilt stitch the binding to the next side of the quilt. Repeat with each corner of your quilt.
Step 4. When you are at the starting side again stop stitching 8" away from the diagonal folded end of the binding. Unfold ending binding and smooth along edge of quilt. Lay the creased end of the beginning binding over the ending binding and trace the diagonal onto the bottom layer as shown. With right sides together align the newly-marked line on the ending binding with the creased line in the beginning binding. Pin in place and stitch. Trim the seam allowance down to 1/4" and press. Refold the remaining binding and realign the two raw edges with the raw edges of the quilt top. Stitch in Place.
Step 5. Fold the binding over the raw edges of the quilt to the back, press, hand-stitch it down. You can also machine stitch it down using a decorative stitch, stitching from the front of the quilt. Tuck each corner into a miter as you go.